| Enmerkar 𒂗𒈨𒅕𒃸 | |
|---|---|
.png) Priest-king of Uruk from the Late Uruk Period | |
| King of the First dynasty of Uruk | |
| Reign | c. 3400-3100 BC (Late Uruk Period)[1][2] |
| Predecessor | Meshkiangasher |
| Successor | Lugalbanda |
| Dynasty | Uruk I |
Enmerkar[a][b] was an ancient Sumerian ruler to whom the construction of the city of Uruk and a 420-year reign[c] was attributed. According to literary sources, he led various campaigns against the land of Aratta.
He is credited in Sumerian legend as the inventor of writing.[4] A excerpt of an ancient text states "Because the messenger's mouth was heavy and he couldn't repeat (the message), the Lord of Kulaba (Enmerkar) patted some clay and put words on it, like a tablet. Until then, there had been no putting words on clay." This is the earliest known story in history about the invention of writing.
- ^ Pournelle, Jennifer R. (2003). Marshland of Cities: Deltaic Landscapes and the Evolution of Civilization. S.N. p. 267.
- ^ Yushu, Gong (2004). The Sumerian Account of the Invention of Writing —A New Interpretation. Elsevier Ltd. pp. 7446–7453.
- ^ Selz, G. J Irano-Sumerica p.259-267
- ^ WOODS, C. (2010). Inventions of writing in the Ancient Middle East and beyond.
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